Accelerated BSN programs can be completed in as little as one year. These degrees are primarily for aspiring nurses who have earned a bachelor’s degree in a different field. However, some accelerated BSN programs will accept applicants who hold an RN license and have a required number of college credits. There are often extensive prerequisite coursework requirements for admission, so applicants may need to complete some additional classes before applying. Students should be prepared for highly rigorous coursework and long clinical hours to complete their degree in the designated timeline.
While it is possible to work as a registered nurse with an associate’s degree in nursing (ADN), there are many compelling reasons for RNs to earn a BSN, including better employability and having the foundation to pursue additional education such as a master’s of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP). Also, BSNs earn more money than ADNs on average. According to Payscale.com (2026), BSNs earn an average of $99,000 annually, while ADNs earn approximately $81,000.
Continue reading to learn about the unique and quick accelerated BSN programs, including admission requirements, benefits of completing one, and some top programs.
How Accelerated BSN Programs Differ From Traditional Nursing Programs
The primary difference between an accelerated BSN and a traditional BSN is that accelerated BSN degrees require applicants to have already completed a significant amount of education.
In general, accelerated BSNs are designed for students who already have a bachelor’s in another field and are looking to make a career change to nursing. Some accelerated BSN programs may accept RNs who have completed the required number of college credits and the prerequisite coursework. These programs are shorter than traditional BSN programs and take 12 to 18 months to complete, whereas most traditional BSNs are completed in 4 years. Traditional BSN programs may also accept students who have no prerequisite coursework completed or have no prior degrees, so the barrier to entry can be lower.
Students should be aware that accelerated BSN programs are incredibly demanding. Due to the condensed nature of these degree programs, students are often in classes alongside clinical experiences. Breaks in these programs are very short or nonexistent, as the goal is to complete the degree on an accelerated timeline. Accelerated BSN programs require a great deal of dedication and hard work, and students should be prepared to juggle their coursework with their other commitments. Those unsure if they are ready for such a demanding program may want to consider a traditional nursing program instead.
One thing that does not differ between accelerated BSN and traditional BSN programs is the curriculum. The nursing-specific education in both programs is the same and meets accreditation requirements for subject matter, faculty quality, and time spent in clinicals and practicums.
Admission Requirements for an Accelerated BSN Program
Admission into an accelerated BSN program is highly competitive. To be considered for admission, an applicant must typically hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a non-nursing field, although there may be degree completion options for ADN-holders with qualifying coursework.
The applicant must then complete several prerequisite courses, which vary by school but typically include anatomy and physiology, microbiology, chemistry, and statistics. In addition, the applicant must have a minimum GPA and submit a resume, personal statement, and letters of recommendation. Some schools may even require that applicants complete an interview either online or in person, and have completed a set number of hours shadowing a nurse.
Benefits of Enrolling in an Accelerated BSN Program
There are many benefits to enrolling in an accelerated BSN program. One of the primary benefits is that an accelerated BSN allows aspiring nurses with a bachelor’s degree to make a career change relatively quickly, rather than completing an entire four-year BSN program. Accelerated BSNs typically take only 12 to 18 months to complete.
Earning an accelerated BSN can also increase employability. Many employers hiring registered nurses (and especially graduate degree committees) require applicants to have a BSN over just an ADN. Also, if an employer implements a new education policy, a BSN candidate won’t need to complete additional education to remain employed. Lastly, many advancement opportunities within healthcare systems, such as nurse manager roles, require that applicants have already completed a BSN to be considered.
If a nurse wishes to pursue an advanced degree such as an MSN or DNP to become a nurse practitioner, an accelerated BSN can help them get there faster. Many MSN and DNP programs require that applicants have already earned a BSN to be considered for admission. The ones that don’t often offer BSN holders an abbreviated curriculum over students who have an ADN.
Featured Accelerated BSN Programs
The eight schools profiled below are a sample of the many outstanding accelerated BSN (ABSN) programs available.
University of Washington – School of Nursing
The accelerated BSN program at the University of Washington School of Nursing prepares graduates to become competent, safe, and effective nurses. The curriculum is designed for students who are motivated and committed to their education and includes hands-on patient care experience under the guidance of licensed professionals. The program’s goals are to integrate concepts from the arts and sciences into nursing practice, deliver quality care that is equitable and inclusive, and translate principles of safety and quality improvement into nursing practice.
Students can effectively communicate with other professionals upon graduation and advocate for patients’ needs. With more than 700 community partnership sites, including Seattle Children’s Hospital and the University of Washington Medical Center, students will gain hands-on experience at some of the most prestigious medical centers in the country.
- Location: Seattle, WA
- Duration: One year
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Madonna University offers an accelerated BSN designed to prepare students for a career in nursing. This hybrid program consists of online coursework, experiential learning, and clinical placements. Students will gain the skills and experience they need to become practice-ready nurses. The program curriculum is based on Catholic and Franciscan values and emphasizes holistic care of the mind, body, and spirit. Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
Admission requirements for this program include a bachelor’s degree in a field other than nursing, a letter of intent, and a clear background check. Applicants must also complete prerequisite coursework in microbiology, anatomy and physiology, sociology, composition, chemistry, psychology, and statistics.
- Location: Southfield, MI
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The ABSN program at Northeastern University is for students who have a non-nursing degree or students who wish to transfer at least 62 credits to the program. All students must have completed specified prerequisites, which include topics such as microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, statistics, developmental psychology, nutrition, and social/behavior sciences, and others.
The coursework is presented in three ways: online courses (fundamentals and theories of nursing; nursing labs (application of core skills); and clinical rotations (hands-on experience). The curriculum includes interprofessional ethics for individual and population health; integrated pathophysiology and pharmaceutical interventions for nursing practice; nursing care of adults; nursing care for the child; public health community nursing; and similar topics. Many of these have lab requirements, some of which are completed in fully equipped labs, and others in simulated labs. Northeastern students have access to high-quality clinical settings in and around the area in which the school is located.
Graduates are prepared to sit for the NCLEX-RN exam and find employment as practice-ready nurses.
- Location: Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Charlotte, NC
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The ASBN program at Georgetown University is a direct-entry, hybrid program which requires applicants to have a bachelor’s degree in another field. Students will complete more than 700 hours of clinical, lab, simulation, and experiential hours. Lab and clinical rotations are in-person while coursework is available on-line.
Applicants must complete ten prerequisites that include human anatomy and physiology; microbiology; chemistry or biochemistry; probability and statistics; and psychology, and others. The first three must be completed within five years of the expected matriculation date.
The core curriculum includes traditional nursing coursework such as human biology, health assessment across the lifespan, nutrition and disease prevention, acute care for adults, pediatric nursing, complex nursing problems across the care continuum, and care of the older adult. Preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam is embedded within the coursework.
- Location: Washington, DC
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
The Ohio State University only accepts applicants to the ABSN program who have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree and a GPA of at least 3.0. Students who have already earned a nursing degree are not eligible for the program. Applicants must also complete prerequisites that include human anatomy, human physiology, human nutrition, microbiology, psychology, and chemistry.
Although some of the coursework is available online, all the clinicals must be completed in-person. Students are advised to set aside 2-3 days per week for the coursework. Clinical rotations may be completed at The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, “one of America’s top-ranked academic medical centers.” Most clinicals will be completed during the business day.
The curriculum includes introduction to professional nursing practice; nursing pathophysiology and pharmacology; adult nursing; mindstrong; foundational principles of evidence-based practice and nursing science; a nursing perspective: lifespan development within a family context; nursing clinical judgement in care of psychiatric and mental health conditions; concepts in community health nursing; cultural competence in healthcare; nursing care of children and their families; nursing care of women and families during reproductive transitions; innovative strategies in leadership and systems-based practices; synthesis of nursing practice and patient care in complex healthcare systems; quality, safety, and informatics; and a practicum in utilization of nursing clinical judgement. Graduates are qualified to take the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Location: Columbus, OH
- Duration: 18 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
All students enrolled at the University of North Georgia must pass exams on U.S. and Georgia history and constitutions. Nursing department students must also take the Health Education Systems Incorporated (HESI) exam, which measures scholastic aptitude, and is a component of the admissions process. ABSN applicants must have a degree from an accredited institution, a 3.0 GPA, and have completed prerequisites that include lab science, biology, and math. Applicants who have not met the prerequisites may be admitted for a provisional semester.
The ABSN coursework includes introduction to professional nursing; foundations of nursing practice; cultural and health assessment; pathophysiology; adult health; pharmacology; mental health nursing; evidence-practice and research-based application in nursing; childbearing family; pediatrics; population health; synthesis practice; leadership, policy, and ethics; and transition to practice.
Some of the coursework is online, however, at least 50 percent of the coursework must be completed in person. Lab, clinical rotations, and simulations are in-person. The clinicals are available at facilities in the region.
- Location: Dahlonega, GA
- Duration: 15 months
- Accreditation: Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN).
The baccalaureate accelerated track (BAT) program for nursing at Binghamton University is for students with a bachelor’s degree and 74 credits of previously completed credits in prerequisites, general education, and electives, as well as a 3.0 GPA. They will complete 52 credits of coursework at Binghamton, plus clinical rotations to earn their BSN.
The coursework is completed on-campus, and the clinicals are available at area hospitals, community health facilities, and long-term care facilities. The curriculum includes introduction to professional nursing; nursing assessment of clients; pathophysiology; the client system of nursing; pharmacology in nursing; nursing research; practice of nursing; professional issues; and electives. Practical nursing I-V includes a clinical component. The coursework includes preparation for the NCLEX-RN exam.
- Location: Vestal, NY
- Duration: 12 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Students in the ABSN program at Western Carolina University are advised to expect to spend two to three days per week attending in-person classes at the Biltmore Campus and one to three days per week at local healthcare facilities, meeting the requirement for the clinical rotations. The clinicals will give them experience in one or more types of care, not limited to intensive care, operating room/surgery, labor and delivery, wound care, substance abuse treatment, and case management.
The classroom curriculum covers such topics as foundations of nursing, nursing assessment across the lifespan, pharmacotherapeutics in nursing, nursing ethics and health policy, concepts of adult nursing, evidence-based nursing practice, emerging trends in nursing, concepts of maternal-child nursing, concepts of community/mental health nursing, and concepts of nursing leadership in management. WCU has a 100 percent pass rate for graduates taking the NCLEX-RN exam.
Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a minimum 3.0 GPA, meet specified prerequisites, and submit recent scores from the Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) Exam. Prerequisites include statistics, psychology, chemistry, biology, and environmental health.
- Location: Cullowhee, NC
- Duration: 16 months
- Accreditation: Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
Kimmy Gustafson
WriterAt HealthcareDegree.com, Kimmy Gustafson has delivered in-depth and insightful articles since 2019, aiding prospective students to navigate the complexities of choosing the right healthcare degree. Her recent work includes topics such as the ethics of gene editing and physician assistant’s fight for autonomy.
Kimmy has been a freelance writer for more than a decade, writing hundreds of articles on a wide variety of topics such as startups, nonprofits, healthcare, kiteboarding, the outdoors, and higher education. She is passionate about seeing the world and has traveled to over 27 countries. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Oregon. When not working, she can be found outdoors, parenting, kiteboarding, or cooking.